Gulf Labour Markets, Migration, and Population (GLMM) Programme

An international independent, non-partisan, non-profit programme hosted and supported by the Gulf Research Center. The programme provides data, analyses, and recommendations contributing to the improvement of understanding and management of Gulf labour migration, population, and labour markets, engaging with and respecting the viewpoints of all stakeholders.

Saudi Arabia: Population by nationality (Saudi/non-Saudi) (2010-2022) (data adjusted by census 2022)

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  Saudis Non-Saudis Total
2010 14,046,164 9,932,323 23,978,487
2011 14,342,129 10,749,738 25,091,867
2012 14,683,546 11,485,315 26,168,861
2013 15,079,401 12,544,603 27,624,004
2014 15,535,036 12,774,237 28,309,273
2015 15,968,071 13,848,311 29,816,382
2016 16,355,312 14,598,886 30,954,198
2017 16,696,980 14,280,375 30,977,355
2018 17,085,636 13,110,645 30,196,281
2019 17,507,171 12,556,628 30,063,799
2020 17,978,587 13,573,923 31,552,510
2021 18,380,669 12,403,714 30,784,383
2022 18,792,262 13,382,962 32,175,224

Source: GAStat, Saudi Arabia census 2022

 

ANNEXED NOTE               

 

  1. Technical Notes and Definitions

 

Source: Saudi census 2022

Date of reference: 10 May 2022

Population of reference: Families and individual citizens and residents within the Kingdom, regardless of the status of their identification documents. Visitors for Hajj, Umrah and tourism are excluded from the census.

Methodology:  

The first phase of the 2020 census began on 3 February 2020 (enumeration of buildings and households). Census 2022 used geospatial data, including satellite images, electricity consumption and mobile phone data, to improve the accuracy and geographic coverage of address canvassing.

The second stage (“actual enumeration”) was due to start on the original reference date (17 March 2020), but was suspended by the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis. This stage was conducted in October 2021.

The 2022 census used a combined methodology – administrative records, fieldwork and digital self-enumeration. Household data were collected from e-portals of self-enumeration (on residents’ mobile devices, laptops or personal computers, or self-enumeration stations/kiosks, located in shopping centers). The digital self-enumeration process was complemented by face-to-face interviews, using digital tablets.

Census 2022 used a de jure approach: enumerating people according to their usual place of residence.

Administrative data from multiple sources was used to cross-validate collected census data.

Census 2022 was designed as a launchpad for several new secure statistical data registers for population, housing, and businesses.

See census methodology in:

https://portal.saudicensus.sa/portal/public/methodology

Portal of the Saudi census:

https://portal.saudicensus.sa/portal

 

Population data for 2010-22 were revised and backcasted, based on 2022 population census and past years’ administrative data.      

Technical note on backcasting:

https://portal.saudicensus.sa/static-assets/media/content/20230529_Back-Casting%20Methodology.pdf?crafterSite=gastat-portal

 

  1. Institution which provides data

 

General Authority for Statistics (GAStat)

 

  1. Data availability

 

The table was retrieved from the Saudi census portal on GAStat website:

https://portal.saudicensus.sa/portal

“Population” section, then “data tables”-

https://portal.saudicensus.sa/portal/public/1/15?type=TABLE

Selected, pre-set tables can be downloaded from the thematic section.

 

Date of access: 20 July 2023.     

GLMM and GRC cannot guarantee that the link to access the source will not change; that the information will not be removed from the website it was obtained from; that no geo-blockages will be imposed; or that the information will not be available for any another reason.              

 

Keywords: Saudi Arabia, Foreign Population, National Population, Foreign & National Populations

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